Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. As I was reflecting on the life of Augustine these words took on a little different shape for me. I have always read these words as if Paul is saying, “don’t be a jerk to your kids, but instead bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” As if Paul is saying here, “Be nice to your kids and make sure you tell them about Jesus”. I still think that is a good part of what Paul is saying. I think he is speaking of tender nurturing and discipline and admonition in … [Read more...] about Dads, Show Them His Glory
Review of Welcome to the Story
In his book Disciple: Getting Your Identity From Jesus Bill Clem shares an analogy where he compares three drama students starring in a play they perform in their garage with a drama student auditioning for a small part in a Broadway play in New York. The difference between the two scenarios is the one student even with a walk-on part being part of something huge. The other students are delusional “believing their vision of the way things could be is the way things actually are”. He compares this analogy to the difference between inviting God into our little stories or being offered … [Read more...] about Review of Welcome to the Story
Bad News Good
“I have some bad news”. I have come to loathe those words. It’s not so much the actual bad news that I disdain as much as the infinitesimal pause before the bomb drops. In that second, which seems to last a millennium, my mind races to predict what darkness—once hidden in the unknown—will now be birthed into light. This time the “bad news” was about our hopes of being able to feel a little more settled. My wife and I had been given great hope that we would be able to look for a house and live in something we could call “ours” for less money than we are currently throwing away in our … [Read more...] about Bad News Good
Review of For the City
Churches can be IN the city, AGAINST the city, OF the city, or FOR the city. It is the latter approach that Darrin Patrick and Matt Carter encourage churches to adopt. Actually the word “city” could be replaced with culture. Whether it be a rural farming community, a ghetto, a wealthy suburban area, or a gathering of mountain men in the hills of Kentucky the church has these four options in regards to her response to the culture. The church in the city is primarily focused with bringing outsiders into the church. The church against the city has adopted a defensive posture that considers … [Read more...] about Review of For the City
Should the Scarecrow Scream
“Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person”. (Matthew 15:10-11) Translation: All foods are clean. I, Jesus, am declaring by my own authority that the ceremonial laws of Leviticus 11:1-47 no longer apply. We eat our pork chops and read through this very quickly without thinking about the offensive and sweeping claims that Jesus is making here. He is overturning over a millennium worth of history and tradition. That would be like going into a deeply traditional Southern Baptist church and … [Read more...] about Should the Scarecrow Scream
Unrestrained Mercy from an Infinitely Merciful God
“For evils have encompassed me beyond number…” (Psalm 40:12a) This is life in a broken world. Bitterness. Wrath. Anger. Slander. Malice. Lies. Murder. Deceit. Grief. Pain. Tears. Sorrow. Regret. Hate. Cold. Brokenness. Yes, evil is all around. I have no problem in a broken world crying out—“Lord, have mercy. Lord, deliver. Lord, rescue. Lord, heal. Lord, bring redemption”. I know He is greater than the brokenness. I know that He is able to heal. I know that He will bring justice. Sometimes, it is hard to wait on the Lord in the midst of brokenness—but I keep a steady hope … [Read more...] about Unrestrained Mercy from an Infinitely Merciful God
Redemption for a Badnewsaphobe
If you look up an indexed list of phobias (which every sane person does daily, right?!?)…there you will notice what seems to me a strange phobia: euphobia. Euphobia is the fear of hearing good news. Strangely absent from the list is a fear of hearing bad news. Apparently, fearing bad news is perfectly acceptable. That’s good for me that this particular phobia did not make the list, because I’m a badnewsaphobe. Unfortunately for me though, it does make God’s list of junk that’s not fitting for those living in redemption instead of rebellion. And that stings. My badnewsaphobia is … [Read more...] about Redemption for a Badnewsaphobe
Bush on Obama, Newton on Baptists, and SBC Name Changes
This morning I read through a really interesting piece by Walt Harrington on George Dubya Bush. The whole thing is worthy of a read, but this particular sentence stuck out to me: His only remark about Barack Obama was, as I recall it, “No matter who wins, when he hears what I hear every morning, it will change him.” This reminded me of a comment that John Newton made to John Ryland, Jr., wen the latter found himself in the middle of a very difficult controversy. Here Newton mentioned the benefit of being a minister in the church of England as opposed to a minister in of an Independent … [Read more...] about Bush on Obama, Newton on Baptists, and SBC Name Changes
What Should a Newtonian Calvinist Say in a Pastoral Interview?
I have been breaking one of my rules lately. I have…gulp of shame…been reading far too many comment threads on blogs. Even worse these blog posts have been about…choking down the shame of broken resolve…Calvinism. While indulging the part of my brain that lacks sound judgment, I have witnessed a common thread. This thread presents itself as a forceful suggestion that Calvinist’s should be upfront and honest about their Calvinism and intentions of “reforming the church” in the interview process. I figure those that mention this have a couple of different scenarios in their mind. One … [Read more...] about What Should a Newtonian Calvinist Say in a Pastoral Interview?
Is It Hard to Hug an Arminian?
Something is bothering me. Before I explain what is bothering me—hopefully for your edification and my own—allow me to make a few qualifiers. First, it is very possible that I am assigning motives and issues of the heart that are not really there but only a reflection of my own sinful tendencies. Second, this piece is intended to be a caution to my Reformed/Calvinistic brothers and sisters. If you do not fit that bill then you can use this piece to look at your own heart as it relates to the “theological camps” that you tend to frequent. However, this is not to be used as fodder to … [Read more...] about Is It Hard to Hug an Arminian?